Household and other refuse storage and disposal apparatus



Sept. 27, 1956 D M. VENISON ETAL 3,274,622

HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER REFUSE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed NOV. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheec 1 Sept. 27, 1966 v msoN ETAL I 3,274,622

HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER REFUSE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21. 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Se t. 27, 1966 o. M. VENISON ETAL 3,

HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER REFUSE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 4' 3* Q J N N v T ////////V////////\: m- N N A. m Q 9 \I: I w 9 Q k N Q 4 z N A Mi V i Jrqho 07% V D M VENISON ETAL 3,274,622

HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER REFUSE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 27, 1966 3,274,622 HOUSEHOLD AND OTHER REFUSE STQRAGE AND DISPOSAL APPARATUS Douglas Michael Venison, Billericay, Essex, and John James Pite, West Wickham, Kent, England, assignors to Matthew Hall & Co. Limited, London, England, a corporation of the United Kingdom Filed Nov. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 325,311 11 (Ilaims. (Cl. 4-287) This invention relates to household and other refuse storage and disposal apparatus of the kind which are adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink or other fixture and operated by flushing water or other liquid.

Such apparatus is generally installed in buildings, particularly blocks of flats, or on housing estates and is connected through a pipework system to a central collecting, treating and disposal plant usually arranged remote from the building or buildings.

Known apparatus of this kind, among other things, suffer from the disadvantage that the size of the refuse placed therein by the user cannot be properly controlled, with the result that the outlet of the container and/or the pipework tends to become blocked. Although in known apparatus of this kind means are generally provided to limit the size of the refuse, such means can be misused since it is possible for the user to remove them without undue trouble.

A further disadvantage of known apparatus is that, due to its construction and operation, it is not possible to control the ratio of refuse to water with the result that, where the precentage of refuse is too great, blockages are liable to occur since there is insufficient water to carry the refuse away.

A still further disadvantage is that known apparatus of this kind usually employ, as the closure means for the outlet of the apparatus, a plunger having a peripheral rubber sealing ring which is forced into the outlet. Such closure means suffer from the disadvantage that the plunger is liable to stick in the outlet or becomes worn with the result that it does not provide a proper seal. Furthermore, as the plunger is liable to stick in the outlet, should back pressure occur in the pipework of the disposal plant, it is likely that the plunger and other parts of the apparatus could be blown out of the sink and thus become a danger to the user.

It is among the objects of the present invention to avoid, or substantially reduce, these and other disadvantages of known apparatus of this kind, and to provide a simple and efiicient apparatus which is far less troublesome to the user.

According to the present invention, there is provided a refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink or other fixture, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid and having an inlet opening for connection to the sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal plant, valve means for normally preventing the escape of liquid through the outlet opening and for retaining a quantity of liquid in the chamber, an open ended cylinder arranged for communication with the sink outlet to receive both waste liquid and solid refuse, said cylinder being provided with aperture so that the bulk of the waste liquid can pass therethrough into the chamber and with closure means associated with its lower end so that solid refuse is normally retained therein, and means for actuating the valve means and the closure 3,274,622 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 means to release the solid refuse simultaneously with the waste liquid to effect disposal thereof.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is a schematic section showing a refuse storage and disposal unit according to the present invention in position in a refuse disposal system.

FIGURE 2 is a section, partly in elevation, of the unit according to the invention in which the parts thereof are in their normal position of use,

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to that of FIGURE 2 showing the position of the parts of the unit when effecting disposal of the stored refuse,

FIGURE 4 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, of the upper part of the unit,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the lower part of the unit incorporating the sealing valve,

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 7 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow 7 of FIGURE 6 with the visor cut away for clarity.

Referring to the drawings, the storage and disposal unit comprises an outer bowl or container 1 having a central inlet opening 2 at its upper end and an outlet opening 3 at its lower end, which opening 3 is adapted to communicate with the pipework 4 of a refuse collecting, treating and disposal plant situated in a position remote from the apparatus.

The bowl 1 is secured, as by bolts 5, to a flanged supporting ring 6 adapted to be received in a recessed drainage outlet 7 of a sink or other fixture 8. As can be seen from FIGURE 4, the flange of the member 6 bears on the upper surface of the drainage outlet 7 and a ring 9 extends between the under-surface of the drainage outlet 7 and the bowl 1 so that when the bolts 5 are tightened the sink 8 and the bowl 1 are securely fixed together. An annular supporting frame 10 is fixed, as by screw-threading in the ring 6 and is provided with a central bore 11 and a counterbore 12.

The counterbore 12 is arranged to receive a plug member 13 which is provided on its under-surface, near its outer periphery, with a groove 14 of dovetailed cross-section in which groove is secured an O ring 15. The O ring 15 is arranged to bear on the flat surface of the counterbore 12 and effects a seal by virtue of its own weight. The effectiveness of the seal is increased as the amount of water in the sink increases. The plug member 13 is further provided with a dished upper surface in which is arranged a finger bar 16 so that it may be removed when required. Alternatively or additionally the plug member 13 may have attached thereto a chain which can be secured in any convenient position on or in the sink 8.

A tubular guide sleeve 17 is fixed, as by screw-threading, in the bore 11 of the annular supporting frame 10 to extend a predetermined distance into the bowl or container 1 and is adapted to receive with sliding fit a refuse receiving tube 18 which is of a length to extend between a position adjacent the bore 11 and a position adjacent the outlet opening 3 of the bowl 1.

The refuse tube 18, which is preferably of a synthetic plastics material, is provided at its upper end with a counterbore to receive a metal insert 19 which is adapted to receive and support a removable sink grid 20 which is formed with a diametrically disposed cross bar 21 serving as a handle. The grid 20 can be locked in relation to the insert 19 by means of a bayonet type fitting formed by grub screws 22 the heads of which engage in shaped slots 23 in the insert 19.

The refuse tube 18 is provided, at a position intermediate of its ends with stop means which cooperate with the lower end of the guide sleeve 17 to limit the extent of its movement in an upward direction. The stop means are preferably in the form of an annular projection 24, or in the form of two opposite disposed crescent-shaped projections formed on the periphery of the refuse tube, and may also be in the form of weights which assist in urging the refuse tube 18 into an operative position.

Both the guide sleeve 17 and the refuse tube 18 are formed with radially spaced holes or slots 25 to allow the passage of air and water therethrough.

A closure member in the form of a hollow semispherical valve member 26 is hingedly mounted adjacent the lower edge of the refuse tube 18 where its flat surface 27 provides a closure for the refuse tube 18 and its arcuate surface 28 provides a valve for effecting closure for the outlet opening 3 of the bowl 1. For this latter purpose the outlet opening 3 is provided with a sealing gland 29 of a resilient material which has a central hole in which the valve member 26 rests toprovide a seal. In this respect it will be understood that the diameter of the valve member 26 is greater than that of the hole in the sealing gland 29 and, should any wear occur, this is automatically taken up. It will further be understood that the contact between the valve member 26 and the gland 29 is such that no other force apart from the weight of the refuse tube 18 and the valve member 26 is required to provide an effective seal.

As stated the valve member 26 is hollow and is formed with at least two apertures 30 so that, in use, water can flow into it and out of it as required.

For the purpose of hingedly mounting the valve member 26 on the refuse tube 18, the valve member is provided with a U shaped hinge plate 31 which is pivotally mounted on a hinge pin 32 supported on a U-shaped bracket 33 fixed to the refuse tube 18.

The bowl or container 1 is provided with an over flow connection 34 which communicates with a U-trap 35 connected either to the pipework 4 of the disposal plant or to the normal plumbing system. Connection to the plumbing system has the advantage that, should the disposal plant be out of use for any reason, it does not prevent the use of the sink for normal purposes. In addition, the overflow connection 34 is arranged in a position which is level with the lower end of the insert 19 in the refuse tube 18 and determines the quantity of water required to effect eflicient flushing.

In use, the refuse tube 18 is in its lower limiting position where the lower end thereof, and the bowl outlet opening 3 are closed, and the sink grid 20 is in position in the refuse tube 18. The plug member 13 is used in the normal manner to close the drainage outlet of the sink 8.

The water used in the sink for normal purposes, such as for washing-up etc., passes into the refuse tube 18 and subsequently through the holes 25 therein into the bowl or container 1 until it reaches the level of the overfiow 34 when it will pass through the U-trap 35 to the plumbing system, or to the pipework 4 of the disposal plant.

When it is required to dispose of refuse, the sink grid 20 is removed and the refuse is passed into the refuse tube 18, the internal diameter of the insert 19 determining the maximum size of the refuse which can be passed into the tube, after which the sink grid 20 is replaced.

When the refuse tube 18 is full, or when it is desired to dispose of the refuse in the tube, the sink grid 20 is locked in the tube by turning it slightly to engage the bayonet fitting 22, 23 and, using the handle 21 on the grid, the refuse tube 18 is pulled upwards so that the stop means 24 engage the end of the guide sleeve 17 and so that the valve member 26 moves away from the sealing gland 29 and simultaneously swings downwards away from the end of the refuse tube 18 with the result that the water in the bowl 1, and the refuse in the tube 18, fall through the bowl outlet 3 into the pipework 4. In addition, the water contained in the valve member 26 also flows out and thereby increases the quantity of water for the flushing operation.

In the raised position of the refuse tube 18, the valve member 26 forms a continuation of the tube 18 for part of its circumference and provides a guide for the refuse. It has however been found that there is tendency for the flow of water from the bowl to force the refuse away from the outlet opening 3 at a position opposite the valve member 26 and to avoid this a visor or guide member 3411 is arranged to surround the lower end of the tube. The visor 34a is hingedly mounted on the hinge pin 32 and is arranged to pivot between an inoperative position and an operative position, where it forms an extension of the refuse tube 18, according to the movement of the valve member.

In addition, due to the manner of mounting thevalve member 26, it has been found that, in its inoperative position, it lies in a plane which .is at a slight angle to the central axis of the refuse tube 18 and tends to interfere with the movement of refuse into the outlet. In order to avoid this, the flat surface 27 of the valve member is formed with a flared recess 35a which coincides with the circumference of the refuse tube 18 and thereby provides a true continuation of the wall of the tube. In this respect it will be understood, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, that the lower end of the refuse tube 18 is shaped accordingly.

When the refuse and the water have passed through the bowl outlet 3, the refuse tube 18 is released and will move downwardly, by virtue of its own weight, into a position where the valve member 26 seals the tube 18 and the bowl opening 3 and the apparatus is again ready for use. It will be understood that, as the valve member 26 is hol low, and is therefore comparatively light, friction is reduced to a minimum and no difficulty is encountered in causing it to pivot into its operative position.

In a modified arrangement, not illustrated, the visor or guide member 34 can be dispensed with and the tubular guide sleeve 17 on the side opposite to that of the hinge 32 of the valve member 26, extended downwardly to provide, in effect, a continuation of the refuse tube 18 at a position around that part of the circumference of the tube not enclosed by the valve member 26. In this case it will be understood that the lower end of the guide sleeve 17 will have to be shaped to allow the necessary amount of vertical movement of the refuse tube 18 to take place.

It will be seen that the manner of sealing of the bowl or container is such that it reduces, or avoids, any likelihood of the apparatus being fired by back pressure in the pipework, since if this does occur, the increase in pressure will merely lift the valve member slightly and the pressure will be equalized in the bowl or container.

It will also be understood that, in the system according to the present invention, re-fuse falls through the outlet 3 together with the water and not after the water as is the tendency with known apparatus of this kind. Apart from the fact that the refuse drops directly into the outlet, the movement of the water has the effect of setting up suction in the refuse tube 18 and draws the refuse downwardly.

In order to effect efficient flushing, it is necessary that the bow-l should be filled with water to the desired level and, as mentioned, this level is that of the overflow which is in alignment with the lower end of the insert 19. Thus, before flushing, it is only necessary for the user to observe whether or not the water level is up to the lower end of the insert which is easily visable. If it is not, then it will be necessary to bring it to that level before effecting the flushing operation.

It will be clear from the above description that the system, according to the present invention, of placing the refuse in the central tube, and not in the bowl, which is the usual practice, has numerous advantages among which is the fact that the ratio of water to refuse can be more effectively controlled and the fact that the size of the refuse is limited to the size of the refuse tube or to the insert mounted therein.

We claim:

1. A refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid, said outer chamber having an inlet opening for connection to said sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal plant, valve means for normally preventing the escape of liquid through said outlet opening and for retaining a quantity of liquid in said outer chamber, an open ended cylinder arranged for communication with said inlet opening to receive both Waste liquid and solid refuse, apertures formed in said cylinder to allow the bulk of said waste liquid to pass therethrough into said outer chamber, closure means associated with the lower end of said cylinder for normally retaining said solid refuse therein, and means for actuating said valve means and said closure means so as to release said solid refuse simultaneously with said waste liquid so that it falls through said outlet opening to effect disposal thereof.

2. A refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid, said outer chamber having an inlet opening for connection to said sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal lplant, an open ended cylinder mounted for lengthwise axial movement in said outer chamber and arranged for communication with said inlet opening to receive both waste liquid and solid refuse, apertures formed in said cylinder to allow the bulk of said waste liquid to pass therethrough into said outer chamber, combination valve and closure means operatively associated with said cylinder for normally preventing the escape of liquid through said outlet opening, for retaining a quantity of liquid in said outer chamber and for normally retaining said solid refuse in said cylinder, and means for actuating said combination valve and closure means so as to allow said solid refuse and said Waste liquid to drop simultaneously through said outlet opening to effect disposal thereof.

3. A refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid, said outer chamber having an inlet opening for connection to said sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal plant, a tubular guide sleeve one end of which is fixed in said inlet opening and the other end of which extends into said outer chamber, an open ended cylinder mounted in said guide sleeve for lengthwise axial movement relative thereto and for receiving both waste liquid and solid refuse via said inlet opening, apertures formed in said cylinder to allow the bulk of said waste liquid to pass therethrough into said outer chamber, combination valve and closure means operatively associated with said cylinder for normally preventing the escape of liquid through said outlet opening, for retaining a quantity of liquid in said outer chamber and for normally retaining said solid refuse in said cylinder, and means for actuating said combination valve and closure means so as to allow said solid refuse and said waste 'liquid to drop simultaneously through said outlet opening to effect disposal thereof.

4. A refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid, said outer chamber having an inlet opening for connection to said sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal plant, a tubular guide sleeve one end of which is fixed in said inlet opening and the other end of which extends into said outer chamber, an open ended cylinder mounted in said guide sleeve for lengthwise axial movement relative thereto and for receiving both waste liquid and solid refuse via said inlet opening, apertures formed in said cylinder to allow the bulk of said waste liquid to pass therethrough into said outer chamber, combination valve and. closure means hinged-1y connected to the lower end of said cylinder, said combination means being arranged normally to close said outlet opening to prevent the escape of liquid from said outer chamber and to retain a quantity of said liquid in said chamber, said combination means also being arranged so as normally to close said lower end of said cylinder for retaining said solid refuse in said cylinder, and means for raising said cylinder to cause said combination means to pivot relative to said cylinder end in such manner as to cause said combination means to move away from said outlet opening and said cylinder end, whereby said waste liquid and said solid refuse will fall simultaneously through said outlet opening to effect disposal thereof.

5. A refuse storage and disposal unit of the kind adapted to be fitted to a kitchen sink, comprising an outer chamber for receiving waste liquid, said outer chamber having an inlet opening for connection to said sink outlet and an outlet opening for connection to the pipework of a disposal plant, a tubular guide s'leeve one end of which is fixed in said inlet opening and the other end of which extends into said outer chamber, an open ended cylinder mounted in said guide sleeve for lengthwise axial movement relative thereto and for receiving both waste liquid and solid refuse via said inlet opening, apertures formed in said cylinder to allow the bulk of said waste liquid to pass therethrough into said outer chamber, a semi-spherical valve and closure member hingedly connected to the lower end of said cylinder for normally closing said outlet opening to prevent the escape of liquid from said outer chamber to retain a quantity of said liquid therein, and to close said lower end of said cylinder to retain said solid refuse therein, and a sink grid removably attached to the upper end of said cylinder said sink grid being formed with gripping means (for raising said cylinder to cause said semi-spherical member to pivot relative to said cylinder end in such manner as to cause said semi-spherical member to move away from said outlet opening and said cylinder end, whereby said Waste liquid and said solid refuse will fall simultaneously through said outlet opening to effect disposal thereof.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 5, in which said semispherical valve and closure member is hollow and is provided with apertures to allow liquid to flow into and out of its interior.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 6, which includes a visor hingedly connected to said lower end of said cylinder to provide a continuation, with said semi-spherical member, of said cylinder when said cylinder is raised to effect disposal of said waste liquid and said solid refuse.

8. A unit as claimed in claim 7, including stop means for limiting the extent of upward movement of said cylinder, said stop means consisting of a projection on said cylinder to engage with said tubular guide sleeve.

9. A unit as claimed in claim 8, in which said stop means are in the form of weights which serve to bias said cylinder in a downward direction where said semi-spherical member is in its operative position to close said outlet opening and said lower end of said cylinder.

10. A unit as claimed in claim 9, which includes a metal insert arranged adjacent said inlet opening, said insert having an inner diameter which is less than that of said cylinder and serving to provide a gauge for determining the maximum size of the refuse which can be inserted in said cylinder.

7 8 11. A unit as claimed in claim 10, in which said cy1i1 1- FOREIGN PATENTS gfisgdlnfgzgrizeml-sphencal member are of a synthetlc 768,014 3/1934 France 324,166 1/ 1930 Great Britain. References Cited by the Examiner 5 390,117 3/ 1933 Great Britain, UNITED STATES PATENTS 627,909 8/1949 Great Britain.

1,424,022 7/ 1922 Lacos-te 4291 2 3 52 4 193 Pasman 4 291 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Przmary Exammer.

2,348,093 5/1944 Pasman 3-2s7 3,007,179 11/1961 Bertul-li 4 -2s7 10 

1. A REFUSE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL UNIT OF THE KIND ADAPTED TO BE FITTED TO A KITCHEN SINK, COMPRISING AN OUTER CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING WASTE LIQUID, SAID OUTER CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET OPENING FOR CONNECTION TO THE PIPEWORK OF AND AN OUTLET OPENING FOR CONNECTION TO THE PIPEWORK OF A DISPOSAL PLANT, VALVE MEANS FOR NORMALLY PREVENTING THE ESCAPE OF LIQUID THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING AND FOR RETAINING A QUANTITY OF LIQUID IN SAID OUTER CHAMBER, AN OPEN ENDED CYLINDER ARRANGED FOR COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET OPENING TO RECEIVE BOTH WASTE LIQUID AND SOLID REFUSE, APPARATUS FORMED IN SAID CYLINDER TO ALLOW THE BULK OF SAID WASTE LIQUID TO PASS THERETHROUGH INTO SAID OUTER CHAMBER, CLOSURE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDER FOR NORMALLY RETAINING SAID SOLID REFUSE THEREIN, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS AND SAID CLOSURE MEANS SO AS TO RELEASE SAID SOLID REFUSE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH SAID WASTE LIQUID SO THAT IT FALLS THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING TO EFFECT DISPOSAL THEREOF. 